Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Monday, 29 April 2013
WIP, Term 2, Week 00
...so far in this term break.
Good morning,
Just before I get started with planning and such for this coming term, I thought I might show these...
First up the Goblins.
After having looked at the upcoming HaT Huns and comparing them to the Lucky Huns that I had already put aside I thought...
So I pulled out the most suitable Lucky Huns (to which I'll add some HaT Huns when they're ready) which gave me these extras.
Sooo...I decided to use these extras to replace my lizards and add another element to complete a proper WMA unit for my Raetian Goblins. Horses fit into the back story so much better anyhow.
Now I just need another 8 of so bats to complete a flyer unit...
Anyway, next we have the Thracian heavy cav.
Zvezda Macedonian Cav straight from the box. Also gives me another option for my Greeks.
And now, the pièce de résistance, my first 1/72nd scale Tiger.
One of two Italeri Fast Build Tigers, nominally painted to represent the Schwere-Panzer-Abteilung 508, the 508th Heavy Panzer Battalion that the Kiwis encountered in Italy in 1944-45.
Primarily because I was inspired by this...
...a 508th Tiger captured by the NZ 22nd (Motorized) Battalion, while the Tiger crew was having breakfast!
For more Tigers and NZ armour pictures, click here.
I suspect that the Tiger's green is a bit dark, but, well, the scheme distinguishes it from the Panzer IVs that I had done previously.
Speaking of comparisons, the above photo of the captured Tiger (and a previous Spearhead game) convinced me that I needed to replace the 1/76 scale Tigers that Andy had given me with these 1/72 monsters.
These 1/76 scale cubs are about the same size as my 1/72nd Shermans!
Nick
Good morning,
Just before I get started with planning and such for this coming term, I thought I might show these...
- Three Raetian Goblin Riders
- One Tiger Tank
- and one Thracian heavy cavalry element
First up the Goblins.
After having looked at the upcoming HaT Huns and comparing them to the Lucky Huns that I had already put aside I thought...
"Hmmm, ok, these Lucky Huns are cool 'n all, but not quite as accurate as I thought."
So I pulled out the most suitable Lucky Huns (to which I'll add some HaT Huns when they're ready) which gave me these extras.
Sooo...I decided to use these extras to replace my lizards and add another element to complete a proper WMA unit for my Raetian Goblins. Horses fit into the back story so much better anyhow.
Now I just need another 8 of so bats to complete a flyer unit...
Anyway, next we have the Thracian heavy cav.
Zvezda Macedonian Cav straight from the box. Also gives me another option for my Greeks.
And now, the pièce de résistance, my first 1/72nd scale Tiger.
One of two Italeri Fast Build Tigers, nominally painted to represent the Schwere-Panzer-Abteilung 508, the 508th Heavy Panzer Battalion that the Kiwis encountered in Italy in 1944-45.
Primarily because I was inspired by this...
...a 508th Tiger captured by the NZ 22nd (Motorized) Battalion, while the Tiger crew was having breakfast!
For more Tigers and NZ armour pictures, click here.
I suspect that the Tiger's green is a bit dark, but, well, the scheme distinguishes it from the Panzer IVs that I had done previously.
Speaking of comparisons, the above photo of the captured Tiger (and a previous Spearhead game) convinced me that I needed to replace the 1/76 scale Tigers that Andy had given me with these 1/72 monsters.
These 1/76 scale cubs are about the same size as my 1/72nd Shermans!
Nick
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Japan's Atomic Weapon
More fascinating stuff from You Tube.
This also from the font of all knowledge, Wikipedia.
Nick
Oh, and while we're at it, so to speak, this...
...is also fascinating. All about near misses in the launch of all out nuclear war.
Did you know that the Americans actually conducted a regularly scheduled ICBM test off the East Coast of America during the Cuban Missile Crisis? Likewise, one of their U2 was snooping around the arctic circle at the same time, sniffing for evidence of nuclear tests, and it got lost...wandering into Soviet airspace, triggering Soviet a/c to be scrambled to intercept it? The Americans also launched fighters (armed with air to air nukes - I'm guessing F-102 Daggers with Falcon missiles) to guide the U2 home. Things could have got really...interesting...had the two sets of fighters met...
Yeah, I know, I should be spending less time on You Tube, and more time working...and playing...
At least we had a great session of Star Wars RPG (1st ed) last night, run by Matthew, my son. We eventually escaped the planet in The Crimson Hue, a converted YT-1210 freighter.
This also from the font of all knowledge, Wikipedia.
Nick
Oh, and while we're at it, so to speak, this...
...is also fascinating. All about near misses in the launch of all out nuclear war.
Did you know that the Americans actually conducted a regularly scheduled ICBM test off the East Coast of America during the Cuban Missile Crisis? Likewise, one of their U2 was snooping around the arctic circle at the same time, sniffing for evidence of nuclear tests, and it got lost...wandering into Soviet airspace, triggering Soviet a/c to be scrambled to intercept it? The Americans also launched fighters (armed with air to air nukes - I'm guessing F-102 Daggers with Falcon missiles) to guide the U2 home. Things could have got really...interesting...had the two sets of fighters met...
Yeah, I know, I should be spending less time on You Tube, and more time working...and playing...
At least we had a great session of Star Wars RPG (1st ed) last night, run by Matthew, my son. We eventually escaped the planet in The Crimson Hue, a converted YT-1210 freighter.
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Hoplites Hoplites Everywhere...
...and not a pointy stick!
Good afternoon,
At school we're having a look at ancient civilizations. Sooo...naturally, my class has made (well, an ex-parent has, and a grandparent has given them their handles, and my wife and I gave them their base coats, and another parent along with some senior children made the children's designs' stencils, and some other parents helped them to trace and block paint said designs, and pick out details afterwards with with indelible pen) Hoplite shields.
Another parent made 26 chitons + one for me!
Anyway, I've been thinking a bit about what the children will do with them. Something like this...
...but without the pointy sticks.
Further to this, I found these clips fascinating.
For the technically minded among us.
Courtesy of Nikolas Lloyd. Interestingly, this fellow plays Crossfire too.
Thanks Nikolas,
Nick
Good afternoon,
At school we're having a look at ancient civilizations. Sooo...naturally, my class has made (well, an ex-parent has, and a grandparent has given them their handles, and my wife and I gave them their base coats, and another parent along with some senior children made the children's designs' stencils, and some other parents helped them to trace and block paint said designs, and pick out details afterwards with with indelible pen) Hoplite shields.
Another parent made 26 chitons + one for me!
Anyway, I've been thinking a bit about what the children will do with them. Something like this...
...but without the pointy sticks.
Further to this, I found these clips fascinating.
For the technically minded among us.
Courtesy of Nikolas Lloyd. Interestingly, this fellow plays Crossfire too.
Thanks Nikolas,
Nick
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Sunday, 19 August 2012
The Mystery of the Battle Of Jutland Explained
Good evening,
I'm sick. Off work, and feeling so unwell as to not even contemplate picking up a brush! Things must be bad! (It's just a bad cold with associated headaches, but still...)
Anyway, the Battle of Jutland has always interested me. Primarily because HMS New Zealand was smack bang in the middle of it, and the only one of Beatie's battle cruiser formation that actually survived.
Here's why the others didn't...
Was the New Zealand lucky, or the crew just more thorough concerning safety procedures? After all, if I remember correctly, the aft turret was hit and put out of action.
Anyway, a very interesting watch.
Nick
Later.
Hmmm, perhaps just very, very, very lucky...
And also useless shots - only 4 recorded hits!
I'm sick. Off work, and feeling so unwell as to not even contemplate picking up a brush! Things must be bad! (It's just a bad cold with associated headaches, but still...)
Anyway, the Battle of Jutland has always interested me. Primarily because HMS New Zealand was smack bang in the middle of it, and the only one of Beatie's battle cruiser formation that actually survived.
Here's why the others didn't...
Was the New Zealand lucky, or the crew just more thorough concerning safety procedures? After all, if I remember correctly, the aft turret was hit and put out of action.
Anyway, a very interesting watch.
Nick
Later.
Hmmm, perhaps just very, very, very lucky...
New Zealand fired 420 twelve-inch shells during the battle, more than any other ship on either side.They must have stacked bags of cordite upon bags of cordite upon bags of cordite right in the turrets themselves!
And also useless shots - only 4 recorded hits!
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Raetian Goblins - A Potted History
A long time ago, in a location far, far away...
...Goblins moved into The Alps.
Slowly establishing themselves in the mountainous peaks and valleys of what is now modern day Switzerland, they maintained a relatively peaceful relationship with the Helvetti. Well, peaceful for Celts and Goblins at least - who were mostly too busy fighting with themselves to be much bothered with each other...
There were even instances when each group actually took to the field as allies against an increasingly common threat - the gradual encroachment of the Mediterranians.
Over decades, and then generations (the average goblin having approximately half the life span of the average human) of intermittent skirmishing with, and ambushing of, these 'Italians', the Goblins began to collect, immitate, and adapt the equipment collected from their foes to their own needs (and stature - the average height of a fully grown goblin measuring little more than 5'3). Towards the end of the second century before Christ, some of the larger and more powerful goblins actually went out in small raiding parties with the express purpose of aquiring some of the armor that was now being mass produced by the Roman state. These posessions became prized heirlooms and were highly valued. Thus, the 'coming of age' ritual of hunting for Roman armor had its beginning.
Some decades later, pressure on the Helvetti forced them to try relocating across the 'Roman sphere of influence' and they were severly diminished through the actions of one Julius Ceasar, Raetia eventually being conqured and absorbed into the Roman Empire by Tiberius Ceasar in 15 B.C. Being a pragmatic race, the goblins did not overly morn the demise of their long time neighbours however. Indeed, from a 'cultural' perspective the encroachment of the Roman military machine made the aquisition of new equipment that much easier - so long as the goblins didn't overstep their mark.
In and around the same time as the Varrian disaster in the Germanic Walds of 9 A.D., one goblin warchief, whose name has come down to us as Gozmog (although it is unclear whether this was his name, or just his title) chanced his luck by organizing a large scale raid agianst Andeer, which in itself was no mean feat - goblins tend to live in isolated settlement from each other, preferring to organise themselves into small, and competing groups centred around one leader. Bringing them together for a large scale engagement was frought with the difficulty of managing competing egos and on-going fueds. And so it was.
Initial success brought inivitable internal conflict as each warband claimed, and then fought over the booty that had been captured. Soon all out interceen warfare ensured between the competing tribes to the point that the Imperial Roman relief force that had been rushed to retake the town was pretty much ignored, so fierce was the goblin desire for loot. The disciplined Romans were easily able to dispatch the remaining golins, distracted as they were with filthy lucre.
After this, the Raetian Goblins contended themselves with fighting each other and small time raids against isolated human settlements. With one exception.
Concurrent with the [human] Raetian uprising of 69 A.D., Gorbonzo (again, history is not clear is this was a name or a title for a supreme warlord) roze up, and by skillful manipulation and sheer force of will temporarily settled the incessant fueding and launced a major campaign against the Romans, distracted as they were by the revolt.
Gorbonzo managed to constrain his forces until he had at least 2:1 advantage, attacking only where and when he was assured of success. He defeated a number of cohorts of Legionaries and Auxilia in at least three major engagememnts in quick succession.
Most significantly, he had the wisdom not to push his luck, and disolved the army back into it's constituent parts, sending them on their way once the Raetian revolt had been dealt with. As for Gorbonzo himself, his fate is not known. It is most likely that he settled down and enjoyed the spoils of his labour for the remainder his days. Never again did such a large goblin force take the field with such success.
From then on, until the great plauge, it was not uncommon for two or three tribes to combine under a strong leader, strike significantly large settlements and then quickly disolve following the pattern established by Gorbonzo, armored in the equipment aquired in the great campaign of 69. They had especial success when the Romans were distracted elsewhere, as during the Jewish revolts and Dacian Wars during the reign of Trajan and his successors.
However, these goblin successes were not to last. In and around 180 A.D. a new virus, known as the Great Plague, developed and decimated goblin numbers. Goblin physiollogy was unable to develop complete immunity to this disease and it continued to reck havoc to their numbers until all reference to Raetian Goblins dissapears from the historical record in the mid third century.
As they were a tribal people, and many of their artifacts were either constructed from natural matrials such as leather and wood, which dissintegrated quickly in the harsh climate, or were modelled afer, or captured from, the Romans, very little material evidence of their presence has been uncovered, and much of what has been found is practically indistinguishable from either Roman artifacts or those of the Celtic people who occupied Raetia before them.
For a more indepth reference to the Roman occupation of Raetia, see the histories of the Raetian province here and here.
Nick
...Goblins moved into The Alps.
Slowly establishing themselves in the mountainous peaks and valleys of what is now modern day Switzerland, they maintained a relatively peaceful relationship with the Helvetti. Well, peaceful for Celts and Goblins at least - who were mostly too busy fighting with themselves to be much bothered with each other...
There were even instances when each group actually took to the field as allies against an increasingly common threat - the gradual encroachment of the Mediterranians.
Over decades, and then generations (the average goblin having approximately half the life span of the average human) of intermittent skirmishing with, and ambushing of, these 'Italians', the Goblins began to collect, immitate, and adapt the equipment collected from their foes to their own needs (and stature - the average height of a fully grown goblin measuring little more than 5'3). Towards the end of the second century before Christ, some of the larger and more powerful goblins actually went out in small raiding parties with the express purpose of aquiring some of the armor that was now being mass produced by the Roman state. These posessions became prized heirlooms and were highly valued. Thus, the 'coming of age' ritual of hunting for Roman armor had its beginning.Some decades later, pressure on the Helvetti forced them to try relocating across the 'Roman sphere of influence' and they were severly diminished through the actions of one Julius Ceasar, Raetia eventually being conqured and absorbed into the Roman Empire by Tiberius Ceasar in 15 B.C. Being a pragmatic race, the goblins did not overly morn the demise of their long time neighbours however. Indeed, from a 'cultural' perspective the encroachment of the Roman military machine made the aquisition of new equipment that much easier - so long as the goblins didn't overstep their mark.
In and around the same time as the Varrian disaster in the Germanic Walds of 9 A.D., one goblin warchief, whose name has come down to us as Gozmog (although it is unclear whether this was his name, or just his title) chanced his luck by organizing a large scale raid agianst Andeer, which in itself was no mean feat - goblins tend to live in isolated settlement from each other, preferring to organise themselves into small, and competing groups centred around one leader. Bringing them together for a large scale engagement was frought with the difficulty of managing competing egos and on-going fueds. And so it was.
Initial success brought inivitable internal conflict as each warband claimed, and then fought over the booty that had been captured. Soon all out interceen warfare ensured between the competing tribes to the point that the Imperial Roman relief force that had been rushed to retake the town was pretty much ignored, so fierce was the goblin desire for loot. The disciplined Romans were easily able to dispatch the remaining golins, distracted as they were with filthy lucre.
After this, the Raetian Goblins contended themselves with fighting each other and small time raids against isolated human settlements. With one exception.
Concurrent with the [human] Raetian uprising of 69 A.D., Gorbonzo (again, history is not clear is this was a name or a title for a supreme warlord) roze up, and by skillful manipulation and sheer force of will temporarily settled the incessant fueding and launced a major campaign against the Romans, distracted as they were by the revolt.
Gorbonzo managed to constrain his forces until he had at least 2:1 advantage, attacking only where and when he was assured of success. He defeated a number of cohorts of Legionaries and Auxilia in at least three major engagememnts in quick succession.
Most significantly, he had the wisdom not to push his luck, and disolved the army back into it's constituent parts, sending them on their way once the Raetian revolt had been dealt with. As for Gorbonzo himself, his fate is not known. It is most likely that he settled down and enjoyed the spoils of his labour for the remainder his days. Never again did such a large goblin force take the field with such success.
From then on, until the great plauge, it was not uncommon for two or three tribes to combine under a strong leader, strike significantly large settlements and then quickly disolve following the pattern established by Gorbonzo, armored in the equipment aquired in the great campaign of 69. They had especial success when the Romans were distracted elsewhere, as during the Jewish revolts and Dacian Wars during the reign of Trajan and his successors.However, these goblin successes were not to last. In and around 180 A.D. a new virus, known as the Great Plague, developed and decimated goblin numbers. Goblin physiollogy was unable to develop complete immunity to this disease and it continued to reck havoc to their numbers until all reference to Raetian Goblins dissapears from the historical record in the mid third century.
As they were a tribal people, and many of their artifacts were either constructed from natural matrials such as leather and wood, which dissintegrated quickly in the harsh climate, or were modelled afer, or captured from, the Romans, very little material evidence of their presence has been uncovered, and much of what has been found is practically indistinguishable from either Roman artifacts or those of the Celtic people who occupied Raetia before them.
For a more indepth reference to the Roman occupation of Raetia, see the histories of the Raetian province here and here.
Nick
Saturday, 27 June 2009
The History of Rome
Hi,
No painting this week (or last week, or...) school's been pretty busy (I've been herding 5 year olds on and off stage for the school production!), but one thing I have managed to do is listen to the latest History of Rome podcast. The whole series is brilliant!
Mike Duncan is doing a fantastic job of bringing the long, and frankly complicated, history of the Roman people to the masses. Well worth the listen.
And Tracie - yes, tanks are big and hard to hide. But that does not mean that they should stick out like sore thumbs! A pink tank just does not 'work'!
Nick
No painting this week (or last week, or...) school's been pretty busy (I've been herding 5 year olds on and off stage for the school production!), but one thing I have managed to do is listen to the latest History of Rome podcast. The whole series is brilliant!
Mike Duncan is doing a fantastic job of bringing the long, and frankly complicated, history of the Roman people to the masses. Well worth the listen.
And Tracie - yes, tanks are big and hard to hide. But that does not mean that they should stick out like sore thumbs! A pink tank just does not 'work'!
Nick
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Ghosts of the Ostfront
Good afternoon,
I've just finished listening to Dan Carlan's Hard Core History latest pod cast Ghosts of the Ostfront (Part II). These pod casts are fascinating. He's got a highly detailed, yet conversational style that is very engaging to listen to.
The Punic Nightmare series of casts on the Punic Wars (shows 21 to 23) were brilliant! I highly recommend giving them a listen.
Nick
I've just finished listening to Dan Carlan's Hard Core History latest pod cast Ghosts of the Ostfront (Part II). These pod casts are fascinating. He's got a highly detailed, yet conversational style that is very engaging to listen to.
The Punic Nightmare series of casts on the Punic Wars (shows 21 to 23) were brilliant! I highly recommend giving them a listen.
Nick
Sunday, 31 May 2009
The World War Three That Never Was...
Good evening,
Instead of writing up this week's class newsletter, I've been distracted by a fascinating series of clips on You Tube about World War III (that never was).
For those of us who are old enough to remember the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, you may recall that one of the fears in these early days was that instead of the Communists accepting the will of their people and laying aside their oppressive regimes, they would instead 'go down fighting' in a desperate effort to remain in power.
This movie (chopped into 10 parts for posting on You Tube) documents this alternate reality. It's a fascinating view for those who are interested in the political and military situation (and possible alternatives) at the end of the Cold War.
Cheers,
Nick
Instead of writing up this week's class newsletter, I've been distracted by a fascinating series of clips on You Tube about World War III (that never was).
For those of us who are old enough to remember the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, you may recall that one of the fears in these early days was that instead of the Communists accepting the will of their people and laying aside their oppressive regimes, they would instead 'go down fighting' in a desperate effort to remain in power.
This movie (chopped into 10 parts for posting on You Tube) documents this alternate reality. It's a fascinating view for those who are interested in the political and military situation (and possible alternatives) at the end of the Cold War.
Cheers,
Nick
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